Purification methods and systems for working up a crude vinyl acetate stream containing vinyl acetate monomer, acetic acid, water, ethyl acetate, and other impurities. Crude vinyl acetate streams are purified with an azeotropic distillation tower using a side draw to remove ethyl acetate and water, and a bottom stream to remove acetic acid from the crude vinyl acetate. The methods and systems move the side draw to a location on the azeotropic distillation tower that maintains a constant water concentration in the bottom product of about 4 to about 15 wt. % and forms a vapor side product. A second distillation tower is used to further purify the vapor side product to obtain water, VAM, ethyl acetate and AA. The system provides easier disposal of ethyl acetate, and cleaner water that can be recycled in the reactor or purification sections of a VAM plant and full recovery of AA.

Purification methods and systems for working up a crude vinyl acetate stream containing vinyl acetate monomer, acetic acid, water, ethyl acetate, and other impurities. Crude vinyl acetate streams are purified with an azeotropic distillation tower using a side draw to remove ethyl acetate and water, and a bottom stream to remove acetic acid from the crude vinyl acetate. The methods and systems move the side draw to a location on the azeotropic distillation tower that maintains a constant water concentration in the bottom product of about 4 to about 15 wt. % and forms a vapor side product. A second distillation tower is used to further purify the vapor side product to obtain water, VAM, ethyl acetate and AA. The system provides easier disposal of ethyl acetate, and cleaner water that can be recycled in the reactor or purification sections of a VAM plant and full recovery of AA.